Two characters die in next Potter book

J.K. Rowling told Reuters two characters would die at the end of the seventh book in the widely popular Harry Potter series.

"The final chapter is hidden away, although it's now changed very slightly," she said in an interview broadcast on Monday on Channel 4 and reported in Reuters. "One character got a reprieve, but I have to say two die that I didn't intend to die."

Rowling was careful not to say which characters live and die. She added she understands an author's desire to kill off the main character.

"I've never been tempted to kill him (Harry) off before the end of book seven, because I always planned seven books and that's where I want to go."

"I can completely understand, however, the mentality of an author who thinks 'Well, I'm going to kill them off because that means there can be no non-author-written sequels ... so it will end with me, and after I'm dead and gone they won't be able to bring back the character'."

The Harry Potter series has sold over 300 million books worldwide. Rowling is currently working on the seventh title in the series, no release date has been announced.